Broadcasting Telecasting (Oct-Dec 1959)

in 1937. He started as a radio inspector and when he left he was the Commission's engineering witness who testified in more than 500 hearing cases. The firm was originally Page & Davis, the Page being Esterly C. Page, now president of Page Communication Engineers, as well as senior member of consulting firm of Page, Creutz, Steel & Waldschmitt. Mr. Davis established his own office in 1942. His associates today include his brother, Walter L. Davis, Julius Cohen and Ralph E. Dippell Jr. FCC extends deadline for multiplex comment At the request of the Electric Industries Assn., the FCC last week extended the deadline to March 15, 1960, for comments on proposed rulemaking to permit fm stations to engage in specified non-broadcast activities on a multiplex basis. The Commission noted that EIA's National Stereophonic Radio Committee currently is engaged in an extensive study of the matter and that additional time is needed for field tests and analyses. In comments submitted before the extension was announced, McClatchy Newspapers (KFBK-FM Sacramento, KMJ-FM Fresno, KERN-FM Bakersfield and KBEE-FM Modesto, all California) told the Commission that the standards should provide the best quality stereo channel that is consistent with a second subchannel operation on the main fm channel. One subchannel frequency, McClatchy says, should be specified for stereo (or other use) while a second subcarrier frequency should be available for other uses. Muzak Corp. (WBFM-FM New York) said that the Commission should not take a step in the proceeding that could jeopardize the future both of fm and functional music. If the FCC, Muzak said, renders multiplex equipment obsolete while setting standards, an unalterable step contrary to the public interest will have been taken. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. reaffirmed its position that fm broadcasting is a public service and that — as a matter of policy — neither the industry nor the Commission should recognize any subsidiary use of the fm band that will materially interfere with the public's enjoyment of it. Associated Broadcasters Inc. (WESTFM Easton, Pa.) and Delmarva Broadcasting Co. (WDEL-FM Wilmington, Del.) believed the Commission should not adopt final standards before the findings of the National Stereophonic Radio Committee (Broadcasting, Sept. 21) are available for study and comment. Electro-Plex Corp., Westfield, N.J., 38 (GOVERNMENT) History on Tape • Theodore F. Koop (left), director of CBS News and Public Affairs, Washington, and CBS News correspondent Howard K. Smith (right) present tape recordings of CBS Radio's 1958-59 Peabody Award-winning series, The Hidden Revolution, to L. Quincy Mumford, librarian of Congress, for the Library of Congress' collection of audio-visual research materials. Series presents discussions of current social, scientific and political problems by leading authorities in their respective fields. is opposed to the use of the fm subcarrier spectrum for any form of stereocasting. E-P also is against a specific subcarrier frequency in the present subcarrier. The quality of performance standards of the main channel, the company says, should not be relaxed below the 30% allowable reduction in main channel modulation to accommodate multiplexed subcarriers. Auburn stations' case set for FCC hearing The FCC last week designated for consolidated hearing the applications of Atom Broadcasting Corp. for a new am (WAUB) in Auburn, N.Y., and WMBOAM-FM Auburn for renewal of license. The Commission originally granted the WAUB application in May 1958 and this action was protested by WMBO on economic injury grounds. In accepting the economic protest, the FCC ordered WMBO to apply for renewal so that the Commission could decide on a comparative hearing which applicant could best serve the community if it found two Auburn stations would be inimical to the public interest (Broadcasting, Aug. 4, 1958). This action was based on a court decision that the FCC must consider possible injury to the public in economic protests (Broadcasting, July 10, 1958). WMBO's license normally would ex pire next week (Jan. 1) and the Commissions action ordering an early filing to be considered with the WAUB application came on a 4-3 vote. Comrs. Robert E. Lee and John S. Cross dissented to last week's action, as they did to the 1958 order. The third dissenter a year ago, Comr. Rosel H. Hyde, did not participate last week. The WAUB permit is owned by Herbert P. Michels. Sales of 60% to J.R. Poppele and family and 15% to William Endres is pending FCC approval. WMBO-AM-FM is owned by the Auburn Citizen-Advertiser. Jamming of boosters by catv charged Western tv broadcasters, tv booster operators and community antenna operaters testifying at a Senate Communications Subcommittee hearing in Casper, Wyo., two weeks ago agreed that something must be done — by negotiation and/ or FCC regulation — for them to co-exist. They testified at a two-day session at which Sen. Gale McGee (D-Wyo.) presided. He was the only senator present. The parent Senate Commerce Committee has reported favorably on a bill to place catv systems under FCC regulation and it is on the Senate calendar for action in the next session of Congress. The committee's communications counsel, Nicholas Zapple, accompanied Sen. McGee. The two-day session heard charges by tv booster operators Fred Frigo, of Sheridan, Wyo., and J.R. Pierce that catv operators had been jamming booster signals. Bill Daniels, operator of several catv systems, was among those testifying on behalf of community antenna systems. Tv broadcasters on the stand included William C. Grove, KFBC-TV Cheyenne; Bill Walter, KSTF (TV) Scottsbluff, Neb., KFBC-TV satellite; Ed Craney, head of the Z Net stations (KXLF-TV Butte and KXLJ-TV Helena, both Montana); Mrs. Mildred Ernst, KWRB-TV Riverton, Wyo.; Donald L. Hathaway, who last summer surrendered his permit for KSPRTV and blamed catv for its failure (Broadcasting, Aug. 3), and Lawrence Berger, KTWO-TV Casper. On the last day of the hearing, TWTO-TV televised the afternoon session live in its first remote telecast. Roger O. Van Duzer, KIVA (TV) Yuma, Ariz., was scheduled to testify, but the plane he was riding circled Yuma for three hours with jammed landing gear. After landing safely on foam, his statement was filed in the record. BROADCASTING, December 28, 1959